THE HOUSE committee on overseas worker affairs (OWA) will recommend the ban of deployment of women domestic helpers in the Middle East nation due to reported abuses of Filipina migrant workers, Akbayan Rep. Walden F. Bello, chairman of the committee, said.
“We will definitely consider some ways of strongly influencing a ban on deployment of domestic helpers in Saudi Arabia,” Mr. Bello said in a phone interview yesterday.
He added that the committee will either seek an executive order directing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or ask congressmen to advise constituents against seeking employment in Saudi Arabia.
The team, composed of Reps. Cresente C. Paez (Cooperative-National Confederation of Cooperatives party-list), Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay (1st district, Compostela Valley) and Emmeline Y. Aglipay (Democratic Independent Workers Association party-list), had visited Philippine government-operated shelters for distressed migrant workers in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar.
The team also held dialogues with officials from the Philippine Consulate in the different areas and members of overseas Filipino worker organizations.
The group is poised to submit its report, including recommendations, on the plight of Filipino migrant workers in that country for approval of the committee on OWA and the Joint Oversight Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs for passage of legislation to protect Filipino migrants in Middle East, Mr. Bello said.
“The testimonies of the women in the shelters revealed in many cases a situation of virtual slavery,” Mr. Bello said
“A working day of 18 to 22 hours, constant threat of sexual abuse from employers to whom the women gave the term maniacs, and beatings, sometimes with the use of hot irons, by the wife of the employer,” he noted.
Mr. Bello said other equally important concerns migrant groups raised are repatriation of workers, Pag-IBIG housing fund and Filipinos in detention centers. — Noemi M. Gonzales, Businessworld
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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